Ludwig: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#7,044

among boys · ↑1,056 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Ludwig

How common

1 in 142,340

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1916

88 babies

All-time total

2,696

#2,727 all-time among boys

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Ludwig popularity over time

2,696 babies have been named Ludwig since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	67	7	–	#590
1890s	108	11	+61%	#493
1900s	105	11	-3%	#572
1910s	555	56	+429%	#625
1920s	524	52	-6%	#848
1930s	381	38	-27%	#932
1940s	198	20	-48%	#1,352
1950s	175	18	-12%	#1,570
1960s	134	13	-23%	#1,681
1970s	75	8	-44%	#3,268
1980s	82	8	+9%	#3,458
1990s	79	8	-4%	#5,343
2000s	71	7	-10%	#7,185
2010s	81	8	+14%	#6,560
2020s (to 2025)	61	10	+26%	#6,545

The story of Ludwig

Ludwig is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #7,044 in 2025 with 12 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 2,696 American babies have been named Ludwig. Its peak came in 1916, when 88 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Ludwig stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Ludwig?

The median living Ludwig is about 54 years old; half are between 25 and 72. An estimated 800 people named Ludwig are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Ludwig year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	12	#7,044
2024	10	#8,100
2023	9	#8,657
2022	9	#8,722
2021	13	#6,545
2020	8	#9,228
2019	–	–
2018	11	#7,430
2017	6	#11,628
2016	8	#9,365
2015	13	#6,560
2014	7	#10,311
2013	12	#6,869
2012	10	#7,911
2011	9	#8,515
2010	5	#13,495
2009	10	#8,075
2008	6	#11,995
2007	7	#10,457
2006	8	#9,254
2005	10	#7,456
2004	9	#7,940
2003	–	–
2002	7	#9,027
2001	5	#11,645
2000	9	#7,185
1995	6	#8,462
1990	6	#7,731
1985	5	#7,164
1980	6	#5,961
1975	6	#5,192
1970	8	#3,709
1965	17	#1,968
1960	8	#3,237
1955	19	#1,826
1950	13	#2,162
1945	20	#1,518
1940	25	#1,352
1935	37	#1,071
1930	37	#1,166
1925	39	#1,137
1920	61	#884
1915	75	#674
1910	16	#771
1905	15	#627
1900	10	#882
1895	15	#545
1890	10	#651
1885	8	#740
1880	9	#666

Famous people named Ludwig

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Ludwig van Beethoven German composer (1770–1827) 18th century
2 Ludwig Wittgenstein Austrian philosopher and logician (1889–1951) 19th century
3 Ludwig II of Bavaria King of Bavaria from 1864 to 1886 1845–1886 · 19th century
4 Ludwig von Mises Austrian–American political economist (1881–1973) 19th century
5 Ludwig Boltzmann Austrian mathematician and theoretical physicist (1844–1906) 19th century
6 Ludwig Mies van der Rohe German-American architect (1886–1969) 19th century
7 Ludwig III of Bavaria King of Bavaria from 1913 to 1918 1845–1921 · 19th century
8 Ludwig Beck German general (1880–1944) 19th century
9 Ludwig I of Bavaria King of Bavaria from 1825 to 1848 1786–1868 · 18th century
10 Ludwig Erhard Chancellor of West Germany from 1963 to 1966 1897–1977 · 19th century
11 Ludwig Feuerbach German philosopher and anthropologist (1804–1872) 19th century
12 Ludwig Stumpfegger SS physician (1910–1945) Contemporary
13 Ludwig Prandtl German physicist (1875–1953) 19th century
14 Ludwig von Bertalanffy Austrian biologist and systems theorist (1901–1972) Contemporary
15 Ludwig Klages German psychologist and philosopher (1872–1956) 19th century
16 Ludwig Yorck von Wartenburg Prussian soldier (1759–1830) 18th century
17 Ludwig Guttmann German-Polish neurologist (1899–1980) 19th century
18 Ludwig Crüwell German Army general during World War II 1892–1958 · 19th century
19 Ludwig Minkus Austrian composer (1826–1917) 19th century
20 Ludwig von Benedek Austro-Hungarian general (1804–1881) 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Ludwig, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Ludwig?

The median living Ludwig is about 54 years old. Half of all living Ludwigs are between 25 and 72 years old.

How many people named Ludwig are alive today?

An estimated 800 people named Ludwig are alive in the United States, based on 2,696 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Ludwig mean?

Borrowed from German Ludwig, which see for more information.

How popular is the name Ludwig in 2025?

Ludwig ranked #7,044 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 12 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Ludwig?

2,696 babies have been named Ludwig in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Ludwig most popular?

Ludwig peaked in 1916, when 88 newborns received the name.

Is Ludwig a boy or girl name?

Ludwig is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Ludwig rising or falling?

Ludwig has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Ludwig?

Well-known people named Ludwig include Ludwig van Beethoven (composer), Ludwig Wittgenstein (philosopher), Ludwig II of Bavaria (politician).

Names like Ludwig

Names that sound and feel close to Ludwig: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Ludwig with similar names → More names starting with L →